WWE 2K23 Review

As a wrestl…sorry, sports entertainer, it’s not enough to make a huge splash on your debut. Beating a veteran, winning a title or getting a big crowd reaction is a great start, but carrying that momentum and building upon it is what separates flash-in-the-pan superstars from legends. The same logic applies to the games based on the weird and wonderful world of WWE. After a few years of lacklustre to downright awful releases, the quality of 2K22 was met with near universal praise, but would the good times last? With faith in the franchise beginning to heal, WWE 2K23 is arguably in a more stressful position, unlike last year’s entry, it now has expectations to meet. So, now that 2K is back in the squared circle, is it heading to the main event, or has it slipped back down the card to jobber status?

To put your mind at ease, Gilberg this game is not. 2K23 is very similar to 2K22 in many ways, with most of the well-received systems and gameplay overhauls making their way over to this year’s release. Combat still finds a solid balance between simulation and arcade, but a few new inclusions bring it more in line with a typical fighting game than I was expecting. Light, heavy and grapple attacks are still tied to the face buttons, and so too are reversals, demanding quick reflexes to turn the tide. The block and dodge options have also carried over, so too has the breaker system, which allows you to reverse a move if you correctly press the same button as your opponent. It was a guessing game last year and that hasn’t changed here, but it’s still nice to have more options when countering your foe.

The two biggest changes to combat are with stamina and resilience. While present in last 2K22, your wrestler’s stamina is a far more important resource this time around. Performing moves, running the ropes and getting your arse handed to you all deplete your stamina which, when fully emptied, will slow you down, lower your defence and prevent you from hitting bigger moves. While being a relatively small change, it goes some way to prevent a completely one-sided mauling. Similarly, the special bar has seen a bit of a change as well. As you hit moves, your bar will fill, allowing you to spend your hard-earned resource on instant kickouts, rolling out of the ring and surprise possum rollups to name a few. When filled, you can also spend the bar to hit your signature move, often leading to a finisher. Managing this resource that provides both defensive and offensive options adds a fun layer of strategy to fights without making them feel bloated.

All of the pomp and circumstance that this man deserves

The submission minigame that sees you mashing face buttons when prompted remains, but kickouts have been given a fresh coat of paint. Instead of hitting X/A like it just cost you your Heavyweight Championship match, you’re now tasked with flicking the left stick up the moment an indicator hits the green zone of a bar shown on-screen. This flick feels truer to the real-world action than spamming a button, but the option to switch it back to the old way is there for those who prefer it.

Overall, the gameplay feels tighter and more refined, with fewer awkward animations and more responsive commands that don’t get caught up in the environment half as much. There are still plenty of little irritations, like the referees making it their lifelong goal to get in the way, or certain instances where inputs aren’t recognised, but the end result is a marked improvement from last year.

2K23 also steps things up in the audio and visual departments, but only in certain places. In general, the animations and characters models are an improvement, with main players like cover star John Cena (if you can see him) and the prodigal son Cody Rhodes looking insanely realistic, though other, less prominent stars like Noam Dar and Shotzi either look a bit rough or feature outdated looks. Belts still float on shoulders and the hair is still a bit odd, but improved lighting, sound effects and polish make 2K23 a standout in presentation when between the ropes.

Adrenaline, in my soul, something something Cody Rhodes

The marquee new match type this year is Wargames. Two rings, a huge cage and a drip feed of two teams (similar to Elimination Chamber) sounds like it would be a lot to handle, but the stipulation is perfect for a video game. The dual-ring setup works perfectly, with new animations making the transitions and interactions between them feel smooth, while the cage and the inclusion of weapons makes sure the match devolves into pure chaos. It’s excellent 3v3 or 4v4 fun.

Headlining this year’s Showcase mode is none other than the 16-time world champ, Peacemaker himself, John Cena. Instead of playing as the face that runs the place, this year’s Showcase mode flips the script, instead asking you to, in the words of AJ Styles, beat up John Cena. Across 17 matches, you’ll fill the boots of some of Cena’s fieriest rivals, like Batista, Edge, Randy Orton and Brock Lesnar. During matches you’ll be given objectives, asking you to hit moves and position yourself and Cena to recreate iconic moments from the brawls, with live-action footage of said matches being intercut with gameplay. While Cena introduces each match in a sound booth, all decked out in his three-piece suit, there’s no running commentary from the Doctor of Thuganomics, leaving you to wrestle to generic rock track number five. The mode does offer up some fun twists towards the end that I won’t spoil here, but I was pretty ready for things to wrap up after over a dozen matches against Super Cena.

While Showcase is the curated exhibition of the 2K games, MyRise should be considered the true campaign. Creating your own wrestler, you’re given two story options this year – The Lock and The Legacy. While you’re still able to make decisions and chart your own course to the top of the WWE, these two separate story modes have a more defined narrative and, in turn, are more engaging. The Lock sees an indie sensation brought into the company as the next big thing, but struggles to conform to the corporate decisions being made for them, whereas The Legacy has you putting on the tights of the child prodigy of a former WWE legend trying to live up to their lofty accomplishments. Voiced-acted backstage interactions and some self-aware writing make this year’s MyRise genuinely intriguing, even if it’s still a bit cheesy from time to time. It won’t be everyone’s cup of tea, as it focuses on a fictional wrestler, but it’s a worthwhile playthrough that might tempt you into a round two.

When wrestling the Genius of the Sky, you need to expect these situations

If you’re more into booking your own show with current WWE roster, or just think that Tyler Bate should be on Raw every week as the WWE Champion like I do, Universe Mode is back to fulfill your fantasy booking desires. Outside of the update roster, little has changed here. It’s not a knock though, as the mode was rock solid last year and continues to be in 2K23. Whether you’re getting granular with Classic Mode and booking each show to within an inch of its life, or taking a single wrestler through each week’s programming in Superstar Mode, you’ll be in the driver’s seat.

While Universe Mode gives you free reign to mash Superstars together like action figures, GM Mode takes things a bit more seriously. Last year saw the return of the mode, but it was simplified and stripped back. 2K23 has massively expanded the scope, making for a far more strategic and engaging experience. The mode now supports up to four players and introduces multiple new General Managers to play as, each with their own power cards, as well as new promotions NXT 2.0 and WCW to book.

Hell yeah, I’d watch that match

Mid-card and Tag Team Titles are now available, as well as heaps of new match types, such as submission, Hell in a Cell and backstage brawls, all with their own costs and modifiers. The goal is still to earn the most money and draw in the most fans by the end of WrestleMania, but you can now continue to book your show past that point if you’re on a roll. There are still issues, like not being able to do tag team callouts, but this year’s offering is an Andre the Giant-sized improvement that’s challenging and really fun.

Final Thoughts

While it didn’t have the uphill climb that 2K22 faced, this year’s WWE still had to deliver if the franchise was to properly get back on track. Thankfully, refinements to the core gameplay, a fun new Wargames match type, a greatly improved MyRise and GM Mode and a decent Showcase offering ensures that 2K23 surpasses its predecessor. The character models are a bit inconsistent and the Showcase Mode could’ve done with a bit more personality and some trimmed fat, but the full WWE package is a worthy next step for the rehabilitated series.

Reviewed on PS5 // Review code supplied by publisher

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